Woman pulled from river was reported missing

April 19, 2009

The woman found strangled in a creek off the Little Calumet River in Dolton had been reported missing to Chicago police on April 4, authorities said Sunday.

Arika Nichelle Sims-Rentas, 36, of the 3100 block of West 38th Street, was spotted Friday at about 11 a.m. by a passerby, who reported seeing the body to Dolton police, according to Illinois State Police Sgt. Juan Valenzuela.

Valenzuela would release no further information about the murder investigation. An autopsy on Saturday determined that Sims-Rentas died from strangulation, and the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the death a homicide.

"She was reported missing on the 4th of April by her mother," said Chicago Police Officer Laura Kubiak. "She had not seen or talked to her daughter since March 26."

The body was found Friday morning in a branch of the Little Calumet River near West Sibley Boulevard (Route 83) and Wentworth Avenue, Valenzuela said.

The woman's stepfather, William Jones of Chicago, declined comment on Sunday and said his wife was unavailable.